Bibliotheca universalis sive Catalogus omnium scriptorum locupletissimus, in tribus linguis, Latina, Graeca et Hebraica extantium & non extantium, veterum & recentiorum in hunc usque diem, doctorum & indoctorum, publicatorum & in bibliothecis latentium [Universal bibliography composed of all the compositions which were printed in Latin, Greek and Hebrew], by Conrad Gesner. Zurich (Switzerland): Christophorum Froschouerum, 1545. First edition. Latin.
Voluminous composition, fruit of the author's ambitious initiative to create the first such universal bibliography, which encompasses all books printed in Greek, Latin and Hebrew during the first hundred years following the invention of the printing press. The author, Conrad Gesner, began compiling this catalog at the age of 25 and for years, he visited numerous Italian and German libraries. After many years of research, he published the first edition of this composition in 1545.
This bibliography, which contains about 10,000 titles and 1800 names of various authors (according to alphabetical order), was the first comprehensive "universal" bibliography.
[17], 631 leaves. Originally: [18], 631 leaves. One blank leaf is lacking in this copy. 28 cm. Good condition. High-quality paper. Stains. Worming. Dark stains and coarse tears to title page and to following leaf, affecting text. Handsome old leather binding. Damages to binding.